To the Editor:—In the Journal of Feb. 1, 1896, we notice an extract from the New York Medical Journal, entitled "Diphtheria sine Antitoxin," credited to Dr. O. B. Douglas. We read this short article with much interest, as it seems to be very nearly a concise reproduction, in meaning at least, of a paper contributed by myself on the treatment of diphtheria, to the Southwestern Medical Gazette for March, 1887, from which the following is quoted. In speaking of the local application of irritants such as tine, ferri chlorid, we said: "In the first place we get the irritating effect on the diphtheritic abraded surfaces of the fauces and pharynx, which is anything but desirable, as it aggravates the inflammation by its constringent and irritative properties." "I have used locally a very mild gargle or spray of glycerin, carbolic acid and rosewater." "To sum